2014 French film
Taken 3 (formally known as 'Tak3n') is a 2015 French action thriller film directed by Olivier Megaton and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen. It is the third and final installment in the Taken trilogy, and the sequel to the 2008 film Taken and the 2012 film Taken 2. The film stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen and Forest Whitaker.
Principal photography began on 29 March 2014, in Los Angeles. In North America, 20th Century Fox released the film on January 9, 2015.[4] The film is set to be released in France on 21 January 2015.
Plot
A few days before Kim Mills's birthday, Bryan Mills unexpectedly arrives shortly after Kim verifies that she is pregnant. After a brief conversation, Bryan leaves for his apartment, where he is met by his ex-wife, Lenore "Lenny" Mills. Lenny reveals that she and her current husband Stuart St. John are having relationship issues, and that she has begun to rekindle her romantic feels for Bryan, however Bryan refuses to allow himself the pleasure of Lenny's company until such a time as she and Stuart work out there problems. Aware of the relationship between Lenny and Bryan, Stuart comes by Bryan's apartment to ask him politely but firmly to stay away from Lenny.
The following day, Lenny texts Bryan asking if she can come by to see him and if so to pick up bagels for the time together. Bryan obliges her request, but upon returning to his apartment discovers that Lenny has been murdered. Before he can react to this development, patrolmen of the Los Angeles Police Department arrive on the scene and move to arrest Bryan on suspicion of murder. Needing time to gather actionable information to avenge his wife, Bryan disarms and knocks out the officers, but before he can leave additional policemen arrive in the area, precipitating a chase through the neighborhood. Eventually, Bryan is able to elude the police by making use of an underground storm drain located in a residential garage to covertly move away from the scene. After calling Kim and informing her of Lenny's murder, Bryan sets out to investigate the homicide. Meanwhile, LAPD Inspector Franck Dotzler is assigned to Bryan's case, and begins the manhunt to locate and arrest Bryan.
Bryan begins his investigation by recovering weapons and electronics from a secure location, then retraces Lenny's footsteps, which leads him to a convenience store where he recovers surveillance footage of Lenny being grabbed by unidentified men. Before Bryan can act, LAPD detectives arrive and rearrest Bryan for murder, however when they report this information to Dotzler the inspector warns the detectives that they are being played, correctly guessing that Bryan wanted to be captured based on his discovery of Bryan's military service record. Dotzler's concerns prove justified when Bryan picks the locks on his handcuffs and commandeers the police car he is in, resulting in a vehicle chase that ends when Bryan intentionally wrecks his car in an elevator shaft to elude the LAPD. Having accessed the LAPD's systems from the patrol cars laptop, Bryan begins analysis of the information.
Meanwhile, Kim has grown increasingly irritated with both Stuart and Dotzler. After attending Lenny's funeral, she is approached by CIA colleagues of Bryan who covertly alert her to the presence of a bug from which Bryan is watching her. After being advised to stick to her daily routine, Kim purchases a yogurt drink and consumes it in the store before setting off for her collage campus for class. After inexplicably becoming nauseated during class, Kim dismisses herself to use the restroom, where she meets with Bryan. After removing a bug placed on Kim by the LAPD, Bryan and Kim exchange information. Bryan learns of Stuarts body guards, and after eluding the LAPD officer on campus follows the men down a scenic country route only to be ambushed by a black SUV, which pushes his car off the road. Commandeering a vehicle by force, Brian follows the men to a liquor store where he confronts the quartet, but is unable to learn anything of use. Deducing that the men work for Stuart, Bryan abducts and harshly interrogates Stuart, who reveals that his debt to an ex-KGB Spetznatz operative named Oleg Malankov was the probably reason for Lenny's murder.
With assistance from his CIA colleagues and a reluctant Stuart, Bryan gains entry to Molankov's heavily guarded suite, but after dispatching the guards and mortally wounding Molankov he learns that Stuart had played both men against each other. In a delivery truck in the garage below the suite, Stuart shoots Casey and abducts Kim, intending to flee the country with the 12 million he collected in life insurance from Lenny's death. Bryan, injured from his earlier encounter in Molankov's suite, gives chase in a porshe. After locating his daughter from the tracker in her phone Bryan arrives at the airport just as Stuart's plane begins preparations for take off. After disabling the plane with the car, Bryan confronts and Stuart and engages in a brief but violent struggle with him. Ultimately, Bryan emerges victorious and elects not to kill Stuart, warning him that while he may serve only a limited time in jail for Lenny's murder he will answer to Bryan for Lenny's death when he is release. Dotzler and his LAPD officers arrive shortly afterward and arrest Stuart.
In the aftermath of the Staurt's arrest, Bryan, Kim, and Kim's boyfriend discuss Kim's pregnancy. After assuring Kim that whatever she decides he will support her decision Kim informs Bryan that if the baby is a girl she would like to name it Lenny after their mother.
Production
On 28 September 2012, Liam Neeson said that there would not be a third film, that the chances of Taken 3 happening were minimal.[11] Later on 9 October 2012, Taken and Taken 2 writers Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen told Hollywood that Fox wanted them to do a third film, but it would go in another direction.[12] On 24 June 2013, the script was being written by the film writers, but no director was set.[5] On 29 January 2014, it was announced that Olivier Megaton (director of Taken 2), would direct the film.[6]
Casting
On 24 June 2013, it was revealed that Neeson was in final talks to reprise his role as Bryan Mills, and will take a $20 million salary for the role.[5] On 29 January 2014, Forest Whitaker joined the film.[6] On 1 February 2014, it was revealed that Neeson said that he would be in the film as long as no one gets taken.[13] On 12 March 2014, Maggie Grace joined the cast,[7] followed by closing a deal with Famke Janssen the next day.[8] On 24 March 2014, Leland Orser is also set to play his role in the cast of the third film which also includes Jon Gries.[9] On 31 March 2014, Jonny Weston signed on to star in the film as Kim's boyfriend.[10]
Filming
Principal photography of the film began on 29 March 2014 in Los Angeles,[14] as well as in Atlanta.[15] On 8 April 2014, Neeson was spotted shooting some scenes in Los Angeles.[16] On 24 April 2014, filming began in Covington, Georgia, where they filmed scenes at Newton College & Career Academy lasting for two days on 24 to 25 April.[17]
Music
On 30 September 2014, Nathaniel Méchaly was set to score the film.[18]
Release
20th Century Fox released the film on January 9, 2015 in the United States.[4]
Reception
Box office
The film earned $14 million on its opening day (including previews)[19][20] and is projected to earn $35 - $37 million in its opening weekend.[19]
Critical reception
Taken 3 has received extremely negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a rating of 9%, based on 68 reviews, with an average rating of 3.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Hampered by toothless PG-13 action sequences, incoherent direction, and a hackneyed plot, Taken 3 serves as a clear signal that it's well past time to retire this franchise."[21] On Metacritic the film has a score of 26 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[22]
